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Text: Genesis 43: 6-10

MEDITATION

Genesis 43:6-10

6 And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?”
7 But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”
8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.
9 I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.
10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.”

MEANINGFUL APPLICATION TO LIFE

1. Israel’s misgiving

a. Why had they disclosed to the Egyptian lord that they had a younger brother?

b. This seemed so wrong and unwise.

2. The reply of the sons of Israel

a. They had been questioned thoroughly.

b. Direct questions were put to them.

i. He had asked if their father was still alive.

ii. He had asked if he had another brother.

iii. They had to speak the truth when questioned by the Egyptian lord.

c. How could they have possibly guessed that they would have to bring Benjamin to Egypt on the next trip?

3. Judah’s word to his father

a. They must make this trip to Egypt, or else everyone would die of starvation.

b. He would stand as surety for the safety of Benjamin.

c. If something bad was to happen to Benjamin, he would bear the blame.

d. Judah’s word was different than that of Reuben.

e. Reuben’s offer to vouch for Benjamin’s safety was not regarded by Jacob.

经文：创世记 43:6-10

沉思

《创世记 43：6-10》
6以色列说：“你们为什么这样害我，告诉那人你们还有兄弟呢？”
7他们回答说：“那人详细问到我们和我们的亲属，说：‘你们的父亲还在吗？你们还有兄弟吗？’我们就按着他所问的告诉他，焉能知道他要说，必须把你们的兄弟带下来呢？”
8犹大又对他父亲以色列说：“你打发童子与我同去，我们就起身下去，好叫我们和你，并我们的妇人孩子，都得存活，不至于死。
9我为他作保，你可以从我手中追讨。我若不带他回来交在你面前，我情愿永远担罪。

10我们若没有耽搁，如今第二次都回来了。”

在生活里有意义地应用

1. 以色列的顾虑

a. 他们为何告知埃及宰他们还有一位兄弟？

b. 这是失策和错误的决定

2. 以色列的儿子的回复

a. 他们是被埃及宰详细地质问

b. 他们必须回答非常直接的问题：

i. 他询问他们的父亲是否还活着

ii. 他询问他们是否还有一位兄弟

iii. 他们在埃及宰的面前必须坦诚地回答

c. 他们并没有意料他们再次前往埃及必须把便雅悯带下来

3. 犹大对他父亲说的话

a. 他们必须前往埃及否则全家将会遭受饥饿

b. 他愿意担保便雅悯的安全

c. 若便雅悯遭受不堪，他愿意永远担罪

d. 犹大的话和鲁本所说的截然不同

e. 雅各并不注重鲁本为便雅悯的担保